Friday, August 26, 2016

I Love You, Nick: A New Proof

Mary & Nick Herbert: Nick Jr. and Tom, Columbus, Ohio 1939
I LOVE YOU, NICK: A NEW PROOF

That my mother and father,
each born miles apart
both sired by Slavic-speaking 
Appalachian coal miners
Mom baptized Catholic
in Cambridge, Ohio
Dad christened Russian Orthodox
in Jeannette, Pennsylvania
met among the steel mills of Lorain
were enamored enough to get married
were greathearted enough to bear children 
in the depths of America's Big Depression.

That my mother saved her money
to give me piano lessons.
Nick Herbert & Alexander de Caro

5 comments:

Ginny from Jurupa Valley said...

What a great tribute to your parents. I also love the photo of you with your nephew, Alexander!! :) Love from the OLD lady in Anaheim, Ginny

Michael Grosso said...

Great photo and poetic remembrance of your family and self from your childhood. Keep those poems coming! With a warm embrace, Michael

Jayme Kelly Curtis said...

They obviously did their best with you, Nick!

Anonymous said...

What that tells me is that in some cases genetic potential only requires opportunity. America, the time of your parents, providing you opportunities. Today you would be working in the steel mills or the equivalent. Lucky you, lucky those who know you.

Anonymous said...

What that tells me is that in some cases genetic potential only requires opportunity. America, the time of your parents, providing you opportunities. Today you would be working in the steel mills or the equivalent. Lucky you, lucky those who know you.